SVHC’s Caitlin Tilley Presents at American Hospital Association Rural Healthcare Leadership Conference

BENNINGTON, VT—May 3, 2022— Caitlin Tilley, BSN, RN, CEN, SANE, director of Care Coordination and Blueprint program manager at Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), was invited to present SVHC’s groundbreaking work in population health at the American Hospital Association (AHA) Rural Healthcare Leadership Conference in Phoenix, AZ, in February. In a fast-paced story-slam-style session, presenters had just 7 minutes to share how their rural hospitals are implementing strategies that enhance the patient experience, designing care delivery to meet patients where they are, addressing their patients’ medical, mental, and social needs, and improving value. Tilley relayed SVHC’s work implementing a Community Care Team, which has demonstrated a 43% reduction in emergency department visits for program participants. By partnering with a healthcare advocate to navigate complex care coordination needs, program participants experience improved outcomes and a decrease in the overall cost of care, as their needs are met outside of the emergency department setting.  

Left to right, Julia Resnick, director, Strategic Initiatives, AHA; Deborah Burchfield, DNP, PRN, FNP-C, Franklin Community Health Network, MaineHealth, Maine; Neil Bard, MD, president, Richland Community Free Clinic and medical director of the Richland Hospital Clinics, Wisconsin;; Carrie Saia, CEO, Holton Community Hospital, Kansas; and Priya Bathija, vice president for Strategic Initiatives, AHA.  

About SVHC:
Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is a comprehensive, preeminent, healthcare system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVHC includes Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, and the SVHC Foundation. SVMC includes 25 primary and specialty care practices.

Southwestern Vermont Health Care is among the most lauded small rural health systems in the nation. It is the recipient of the American Hospital Association’s 2020 Rural Hospital Leadership Award. In addition, SVMC ranked fourth nationwide for the value of care it provides by the Lown Institute Hospital Index in 2020 and is a five-time recipient of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. It has also received the highest marks possible from the Leapfrog Group. The health system is fortunate to have the support of platinum-level corporate sponsor Mack, a leading supplier of contract manufacturing services and injection molded plastic parts based in Arlington, VT.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center provides exceptional care without discriminating on the basis of an individual’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.